dark sisters [muhly & karam]
[01/2014]
composer | NICO MUHLY
librettist | STEPHEN KARAM
conductor | GLENN LEWIS
scenic designer | DAN DALY
costume designer | TONI WEST
lighting designer | ROBERT FIGUEIRA
photographer | DAVID BACHMAN
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/0jI3PSR8Uoccm2otX5eeGy;944x1220.jpeg?auto=webp)
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/8X3eNkD37cMcHQ7cJksnFf;944x1220.jpeg?auto=webp)
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/1gNS4cCsd4xbKrmc50k2DX;500x288.jpeg?auto=webp)
The Prophet (Joe Barron) and his wives (from L to R) Eliza (Jasmine Muhammad), Zina (Meredith Lustig), Ruth (Nicole Rodin), Almera (Alexandra Loutsion) and Presendia (Samantha Korbey) wake to find their house ransacked and their children taken by state officials.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/aG60lMxHnsGg7jYljRVziY;438x291.jpeg?auto=webp)
The Prophet reveals that he has had a revelation from an angel of God.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/b36OyCgOHTngpGwGW2QRIA;290x435.jpeg?auto=webp)
Eliza's daughter Lucinda (Rebecca Belczyk) prays alone.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/j1sv7uGsXxyf5yu3kPsAW0;500x333.jpeg?auto=webp)
Eliza recalls her past: joining the Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saint church...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/ld3BswEGPwicnD32gygi0M;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...remembering the loneliness of her wedding day...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/7th1Je2UIdmb82RfT2d14h;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...and questioning the validity of the church's doctrines.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/1tUJHplsZZ4dFUC8d9SayM;500x273.jpeg?auto=webp)
The wives return to their rooms, waiting for their children.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/2kzFhikB1f4eGCgaGaynkp;500x333.jpeg?auto=webp)
The wives read the scripture and pray to "Keep Sweet".
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/9kzTRivnTQlbFwBwj8KxxR;290x435.jpeg?auto=webp)
Almera begs Eliza to be stay holy, so that they can live together in eternity after death.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/i2mj4zzfUzjbdAG2XJvWuQ;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
Zina occupies herself by sewing...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/9uAJOkJZFSDcJSbUX1uwD1;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...as Presendia taunts her with a romantic gift from the Prophet...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/fjClcWJR5jKdGyAJoIxtws;290x435.jpeg?auto=webp)
...leading to a physical confrontation between them.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/16msLKWbdbybFjmEo437TF;500x333.jpeg?auto=webp)
Ruth shows Eliza a letter from Lucinda to the Prophet...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/eCxhqOdd74devrWkNYXk55;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...in which she begs to wait before marrying an older man in the church.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/dHUbWSUKTxBclz3llS3ZZU;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
Each wife prepares for the Prophet's return, praying that he will sleep with her tonight.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/grioaQl6vvGdpojsZf2OJU;424x282.jpeg?auto=webp)
The Prophet chooses Eliza, driving her to reveal to the world the abuses happening inside the church compound.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/bOa2uhivYbzf4hwkZv6vYl;500x273.jpeg?auto=webp)
Having been invited onto King's (Joe Barron) TV show to tell their story, the women pray before the cameras go live.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/bei38Az6L2igr3m41NazJE;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
King mocks the wives' refusal to answer his tough questions about polygamy...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/3AtOACAukL9bNrijpvZHiz;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...but the wives, except Eliza, remain firm.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/ddk4O8MG5csdYHplQ9wVBa;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
Eliza breaks from the script, revealing the secrets of the church and begging her daughter to stay away...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/hM6MV43ugNKe4tRDItt83l;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...only to realize that she must now leave the compound forever.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/eJcFtE7Am7GfgxiM5Ws4Qp;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
Ruth, deeply depressed, escapes the compound and runs to the top of the mesa...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/2jtiZ2ZmKqucqKmV9RnFdW;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...throwing herself to her death...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/570jCkekZiTcvwirORWEPM;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...as the rest of the family mourns.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/jHgF9vKkmILfApa5lYBm6Y;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
Eliza returns to take Lucinda with her, far away from the compound, but is rejected...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/l7o4ShS8Gh0f5WjCq5UlSZ;333x500.jpeg?auto=webp)
...leaving her to start a new life alone.